I Can’t Drive… 55!

This is also my bestie from high school, Mindy (on the right, 1987… no giggling at the funny old pictures).

We were as close as sisters and were always there for each other no matter what. And the trouble we used to get in… well, that’s a story for another day.

Sheryls wedding, 1987

Graduation, Baby! 1985

Anyway, just before our senior year of high school started, Sheryl’s dad won a car. Not just any car, but a 1985 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z and the very first one to come off the line. The license plate read CAR-001.

It had a factory stereo in it that could blast the ice off the windows. Turn up that bass! Which we did… often. You could hear Sheryl coming from a block away.

One day we decided to go test just how sporty this little car actually was. We went across the river to the backroads of rural Graham County, Arizona, where we had miles upon miles of empty road with all kinds of hills and twists and turns. Sheryl managed to exceed 80 mph on one stretch… keeping in mind that this was back in the day when the legal speed limit on every major highway was only 55 mph, so hitting 80+ was a big deal. If we would have been caught, Sheryl surely would’ve had her license revoked.

Needless to say, Sheryl acquired many speeding tickets during the next couple of years. It’s a really good thing her brother was a cop.

The following was a song we would crank up in that sporty little car of hers with the kick-ass stereo whenever we would cruise the backroads because it was oh-so-true. This is also my pick for James’s Motivational Music Monday this week. After all these years, it still gets the blood and the heart pumping.

Sadly, Sheryl died in 2012. However, 30+ years later, Mindy and I are still in touch.

Sorry about your friend, Cheryl, Paula. Looking at your photos brought back memories. I used to whip around town in a little Chevy Monza with my radio blaring as well. Fav tune: Golden Earring’s Twilight Zone. That was the driving jam!

You just reminded me… My daughter, aged 29, is in Australia at the mo, and this was part of her latest email:
“We are a 5 min walk from the beach and I’m learning to drive in Aaron’s auto. Drove pretty far the other day. Maybe like half an hour. And went 100_km. I’m not bad at driving. Just bad at maintaining consistent speed. And terrible at parking!!!! Need to work on that!”
I’m not sure if the 100 km in half an hour is correct but, if it is, that’s 200kph or 122 mph!! (Maybe she meant 100kph or 62mph – at least I hope so).

What a lovely story, I am sorry you lost your Friend, she was obviously far too young to die. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but the photographs you all look so American, so glamorous, just as here in the UK one would imagine American girls to look. How wonderful that you still have such a close friendship with Mindy. Love the car, bet “you did burn some rubber”.

Man oh man, I must be your demographic as relates to readership: the Great Hagar, a Dodge Daytona, and the 80’s all in one blog – nicely done! Makes me want to grow a mullet – though I’m bald, so, hey, better not. Thanks for the nice memories….I’ve got a few 80’s memories myself…and, yep, I just read somewhere else: “nostalgia” means “to know pain” – Guess we gotta just keep on rockin’!

Lol, business in the front, party in the back! Mullets were just as fun as the frizz fest girls had going on!! Ahhhh yeah, the ’80s were the best!! Super glad you enjoyed! Indeed… we gotta keep rockin’! (And what a nice little Foreigner flashback that is!) 🙂

Oh Paula, what a beautiful trip down memory lane for you. I am so sorry about the loss of Sheryl, you must miss her terribly. I have to say, she sounds like she was a bundle of fun to be around ! I am pleased you and Mindy are still in contact with eachother. Friendships like that are so precious. It’s a lovely pic of you, AJ and Mindy, by the way 🙂 . Have a great weekend 🙂 x

Thank you so much Lynne! Yeah, she was one of a kind! We were total hellions, I will admit. And it really is great to still have Mindy in my life! Someone who I can be 100% myself and don’t have to hide anything from. I can look at her and she knows what I’m thinking. I am truly blessed, 😀

Those are some precious memories.
I had to laugh at the ‘Olan Mills’ friend pictures that we used to have made back in the day!
Good times!
BTW, Paula, you have some of the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen 🙂 I bet you get that alot!
RIP Sheryl 🌹

Lovely to hear about your friends and see the photos! I love the fact that Years have gone by, and yet my school friends, no matter what happens, are still the same characters as there were years ago…… love and friendship. So important, but you don’t really realise it whilst you are making those friendships! I’m so sorry that you had a friend who died. I’d miss any of my friends greatly.

Thanks Julie! Yes, the only thing that ever seems different about the passing years is the way we look on the outside! And hopefully we’ve gained the knowledge to not drive 80 in a 40 mph zone, lol!! 😀

I wasn’t laughing at the old photos…but I was giggling at the fact that you felt the need to tell us that your friends were on the right. Paula, you haven’t changed much from HS…we could spot you in each photo!!! LOL